[Pressure response to dynamic exercise and antihypertensive therapy].

Objectives: To study the exercise systolic pressure (SP) in hypertensive patients, its relation with left ventricular (LV) mass and the efficacy of its control by some antihypertensive drugs.

Design: To study the echocardiogram (ECHO) and exercise test (ET) in hypertensives (HT), before and after rest blood pressure (BP) control.

Setting: Out-patient cardiology clinic in a military hospital.

Methods: 53 male moderate HT, 30 to 60 years old, without other pathology, were studied with ECHO and ET. 28 HT repeated ET after rest BP control: Group A--Diuretic (Hchlt/Triam), n: 7; Group B--Atenolol, n: 10; Group C--Nifedipine, n: 11.

Results: 1. There was a positive correlation between LV mass index and exercise SP (r: 0.37; p less than 0.01), but not rest blood pressure. 2. Exercise test duration was increased only in group C. 3. Hypertensives with rest BP control had also normal exercise SP in group B, but not in groups A or C (Qui2: 11 735; p less than 0.001).

Conclusions: 1. Exercise systolic blood pressure seems to be more important than rest blood pressure to the development of LVH in hypertensive patients. 2. The observed increase of exercise capacity in Nifedipine group must be considered in the treatment of physically active hypertensives. 3. Hypertensives with rest BP controlled by Atenolol have also, very probably, a normal exercise systolic pressure. 4. In physically active HT with rest BP controlled by Diuretic or Nifedipine may be useful an exercise test to evaluate exercise systolic pressure.